20201213 SUSTAINING OUR DREAMS
13 December, 2020, Sunday, 3rd Week of Advent
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Rose or Violet.
First reading |
Isaiah 61:1-2,10-11 © |
He has sent me to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord
The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring good news to the poor,
to bind up hearts that are broken;
to proclaim liberty to captives,
freedom to those in prison;
to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.
‘I exult for joy in the Lord,
my soul rejoices in my God,
for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation,
he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity,
like a bridegroom wearing his wreath,
like a bride adorned in her jewels.
‘For as the earth makes fresh things grow,
as a garden makes seeds spring up,
so will the Lord make both integrity and praise
spring up in the sight of the nations.’
Responsorial Psalm |
Luke 1:46-50,53-54 © |
My soul rejoices in my God.
My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her nothingness;
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
My soul rejoices in my God.
The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age,
on those who fear him.
My soul rejoices in my God.
He fills the starving with good things,
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant,
remembering his mercy.
My soul rejoices in my God.
Second reading |
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 © |
May you all be kept safe for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
Be happy at all times; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus.
Never try to suppress the Spirit or treat the gift of prophecy with contempt; think before you do anything – hold on to what is good and avoid every form of evil.
May the God of peace make you perfect and holy; and may you all be kept safe and blameless, spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called you and he will not fail you.
Gospel Acclamation | Is61:1(Lk4:18) |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The spirit of the Lord has been given to me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor.
Alleluia!
Gospel |
John 1:6-8,19-28 © |
'There stands among you the one coming after me'
A man came, sent by God.
His name was John.
He came as a witness,
as a witness to speak for the light,
so that everyone might believe through him.
He was not the light,
only a witness to speak for the light.
This is how John appeared as a witness. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ he not only declared, but he declared quite openly, ‘I am not the Christ.’ ‘Well then,’ they asked ‘are you Elijah?’ ‘I am not’ he said. ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?’ So John said, ‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied:
a voice that cries in the wilderness:
Make a straight way for the Lord.’
Now these men had been sent by the Pharisees, and they put this further question to him, ‘Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the prophet?’ John replied, ‘I baptise with water; but there stands among you – unknown to you – the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap.’ This happened at Bethany, on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.
SUSTAINING OUR DREAMS
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ISA 61:1-2,10-11; 1 THESS 5:16-24; JN 1:6-8.19-28]
We cannot survive without hope. When people end their own lives it is because they have lost all hope of freedom from their miseries. When we think that life is but one long misery of pain and desolation, there is no reason to live on. This is true for those who are from suffering an incurable illness or a bad accident that has left them maimed for life. When they think of the long misery ahead, they wish that the Lord would take away their lives as soon as possible because they are in the valley of tears. This is true as well for those whose lives are broken because they have no friends, no relationships, no meaning and purpose in life.
Today, the scripture readings tell us to continue to have hope by sustaining our dreams. All great things happen because people dare to dream. The great inventions and technological advancements in the world happen because people are courageous and persevering enough to realize their dreams. What was thought a fiction has become a reality today. So too, we must continue to dream dreams. What dreams can sustain us to continue living and having hope?
The first reading from the Prophet Isaiah, which was written after the exile, sought to give the people of Israel hope for a new jubilee. When they were in exile, the prophets sustained them with hope for liberation and new life. Jeremiah prophesied of a New Covenant. The Lord said, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jer 31:33) The prophet Ezekiel said, “I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.” (Ezk 36:24-27)
But alas, when they returned, the temple was in ruins, the remnants left behind were poor people. Not all decided to return from Babylon as many of them had settled down comfortably and were rich. Who would want to come back to Jerusalem and rebuild the devastated city? So the prophet Isaiah wrote to renew the dream of Israel to celebrate the new Jubilee. In Leviticus 25, Moses commanded the people to celebrate the Sabbatical Year every 7th Year and then the Great Jubilee on every 50th Year. On that year, all land would be restored to their original owner. All slaves would be freed and all land would lie fallow. This is what the Prophet said, “He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken; to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison; to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.”
But was this dream realized? It was only partially realized when the Temple was rebuilt. But it never became what it was during the time of King David. Furthermore, their enemies were still around. Over the next five centuries and even during the time of Christ, Israel was persecuted and controlled by foreign powers, the Persians, followed by the Greeks, and then the Romans. The Jews hated the foreign powers and hence they continued to await the day of liberation when God would send the Messiah to restore Israel back to its former glory. So we can understand and appreciate the keen expectation of the coming of the Messiah as we read in the gospel. When they heard of John the Baptist who was drawing crowds, they sent the priests and Levites to inquire after the identity of John the Baptist. Was he the Messiah, was he Elijah or was he the Prophet foretold by Moses? (cf Dt 18:15)
The season of Advent wants us to know that Christ is the Messiah. He is the one who would fulfill our dreams and the dream of Israel. This was confirmed by John the Baptist. When questioned about his identity, John the Baptist was elusive. He called himself “a voice that cries in the wilderness: Make a straight way for the Lord.” John was just a witness to the light. “He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light.” Christ was this light that he came to witness to, as he said, “I baptize with water; but there stands among you – unknown to you – the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap.” Following today’s gospel text, the next day, John pointed out to the disciples that Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. He was the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit because He is the Son of God. (Jn 1:29-34)
Indeed, Jesus is the Savior of the world. By being the Passover Lamb, He saved us from our sins by being the atonement sacrifice for us on the cross. (cf Lev 16:6-10) After His death and resurrection, Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit so that we too would be given the spirit of sonship and daughtership. In Christ, we are a new creation and the Sabbatical Jubilee is fulfilled in Him. (cf Lk 4:18f) He said, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Lk 4:21) Jesus as the Son of David restored the kingdom of David but not in territorial terms, not in earthly glory but spiritually, when all of us share in the reign of Christ over sin and death. In Christ Jesus, we no longer have to fear death because by His death, He conquered death, the wages of sin. (cf Rom 6:23)
When we look at the world today, can we say that the dream has been realized, that the Kingdom of God has been established in the entire creation when only one-third of the people have accepted Christ? And of the one-third who claim to have accepted Christ, fewer still live out the gospel life. Indeed, when we look at the world today, we too might feel disappointed like the Israelites and the early Christians. This is why ultimately, St Paul urges us to look forward to the Second Coming of Christ when His kingdom would be ultimately established. He said, “Hold on to what is good and avoid every form of evil. May the God of peace make you perfect and holy; and may you all be kept safe and blameless, spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called you and he will not fail you.”
Christians live in hope for the Second Coming of Christ. This is what drives us on each day to continue to work for the good, peace and harmony of this world. It is in view of Christ’ second coming that we continue to be like John the Baptist to witness to the Light, to announce the gospel of salvation, the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, calling people to conversion of hearts, not just in words but in deeds of mercy, healing, reconciliation and restoration. It is through humble and selfless service like John the Baptist, pointing people to the Lord instead of himself, that people would come to know His love, mercy and forgiveness. This is how we prepare to celebrate His First Coming at Christmas by making Christ known and loved through our kindness and utter giving of oneself by sharing our resources with others. Hopefully, they will come to know through us, the Messiah unknown to them!
For this to happen, we must be one with the bridegroom. The Church fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that we become the bride of our Lord. “I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation, he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity, like a bridegroom wearing his wreath, like a bride adorned in her jewels.” We must be intimate with our Lord, spending time listening to His voice. St Paul urges us, “Be happy at all times; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus.” When we are happy, live meaningful lives ourselves, and live as people of Hope, then those who see us will believe in Him. Our smiles, our life of thanksgiving in faith and hope, will inspire others to come to know the Christ in us. They too will be given hope, especially in their trials, knowing that God’s love and mercy is real as they encounter Him through us.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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